The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-04-15
LETTER FROM OMAHA.
No. [,


Within the memory of the writer all
that portion of our country lying be-
tween the Mississippi River and the
Rocky Mountains and north of the
south line of the state of Missouri
extended westward, was designated on
the school atlas as Missouri Territory,
with the exception of the southeastern
portion, which had been admitted into
the Union as the State of Missouri in
1929. Little was then known of the
country except as it was described as
being inhabited by rowing tribes of
Indians, and abounded in wild game.
such as elk, deer, bears, antelope and
immense herds of buffaloes.
Council Bluffs was known only as a
station for holding council with the
Indians, and contained no permanent
white population. 1t was supposed to
be so far from civilization as not to be
easily reached by the ordinary citizen !;
government officers, with a few
soldiers, were the only whites who were
supposed TO reach that point.
AT length settlements began to be
made in Iowa, and in time Council
Bluffs began to assume more import.
ance. and was one of the frontier towns
TO which the converging trails of
the country led. which were travelled
by the California pilgrims in 1s49-or,
as they have since been Familiarity
known, as Forty-niners. Their outfits
and supplies were laid in either at
Council Bluffs, St Joe, or Independence,
preparatory to their long journey across
the plains in search of the Golden FL.
dorado.
AT that time Omaha avds not. The
site of the present city was then howl.
ing wilderness. The soil was claimed
by the red man. who forbade the white
man to settle on his domain. The
natural surface, where now stands the
city, will, perhaps, be best understood
by comparing it to the ocean in tenn
pest, the waves rolling mountains high.
and becoming instantly solid. The
bluffS and ravineS were covered with a
moderate growth of timber extending
back from the Missouri River several
miles to the prairie. 1t was forbid
den-looking region for the settler to
convert into pleasant farms and homes.
The steep hillsides and dep ravines
were practically untillable. It was a
fit region only for he wolves to howl
over or build city upon, and speculate
in real estate. Pioneers being more
enterprising than wolves, the latter
were driven out, and in 1853 was erect
ed the first house. the location of which
is still pointed out. The task of cut
ting down hills and filling ravines was
truly Herculean, but by perseverance.
in the course of time, great changes
were wrought. AT present the princi.
pal mercantile portion of the city is
comprised within about 100 blocks.
situated 90 to 100 feet above the river.
most of which has been made near.
ly as level as Chicago. Other portions
of the city are more or less broken, &C.
cording to location; streets have been
excavated ten to thirty feet and ravines
filled to a corresponding degree. In
many instances buildings are left
perched upon an almost giddy hight
above the street grade, and in other
cases the grade is even with or above
the roof. A few years will doubtless
remedy all these inequalities. The
early settlers were composed of enter.
prising persons, and the population of
to-day is no less enterprislng.
The progress of the city, for several
years subsequent to its settlement was
but moderate. The building of the
first trans-continental railroad, the
Union Pacific, and the several railroads
connecting with Chicago and other
eastern cities, gave OMAHA an impetus.
The California travei necessarily